U.S. patent number 5,403,290 [Application Number 07/870,814] was granted by the patent office on 1995-04-04 for gastric adapter/stopcock.
Invention is credited to Lisa W. Noble.
United States Patent |
5,403,290 |
Noble |
April 4, 1995 |
Gastric adapter/stopcock
Abstract
A gastric adapter comprising a three-way stopcock. The stopcock
includes connectors having tapered surfaces for sealing tightly
with the ends of nasogastric, gastrostomy and feeding tubing and
includes fluid passageways of sufficient diameter so as to be
capable of conveying viscous fluids such as emulsion, suspensions
and slurrys to provide effective operation and use in the
particular environment of administering critical fluids and
medications through nasogastric and gastrostomy tubing.
Inventors: |
Noble; Lisa W. (Long Beach,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
25356117 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/870,814 |
Filed: |
April 20, 1992 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/248;
137/625.47; 604/905 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
11/0853 (20130101); A61J 15/0026 (20130101); A61J
15/00 (20130101); A61M 39/223 (20130101); Y10S
604/905 (20130101); Y10T 137/86871 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A61J
15/00 (20060101); F16K 11/02 (20060101); F16K
11/085 (20060101); A61M 39/00 (20060101); A61M
39/22 (20060101); A61M 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/247,248,905,32
;137/625.47,625.41 ;251/148,150 ;285/332,80 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Sales Brochure, USCI, A Division of C.R. Bard, Inc., Billerica,
Mass. 01821, Jun. 1974..
|
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; C. Fred
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Chalin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Klima; William L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A stopcock, comprising:
an elongated body member defined by a substantially cylindrical
body portion and a tapering body portion, said cylindrical body
portion having a round opening on one side extending into a
cylindrical cavity;
a first tapering tubing connection extending from said tapering
body portion, said tapering tubing connection having a first fluid
passageway extending therethrough and into said cylindrical
cavity;
a second tapering tubing connection extending from said cylindrical
body portion of said elongated body member in a direction
substantially opposite to said first tapering tubing connection,
said second tapering tubing connection having a second fluid
passageway extending therethrough and into said cylindrical cavity
of said elongated body member, said second fluid passageway is
substantially aligned with said first fluid passageway in said
first tapering tubing connection;
a syringe port extending from said cylindrical body portion of said
elongated body member and positioned between said first tapering
tubing connection and said second tapering tubing connection, said
syringe port having a third fluid passageway extending therethrough
and into said cylindrical cavity of said elongated body member,
said third fluid passageway positioned approximately 90 degrees
relative to both said first and second fluid passageways; and
a key member defined by a cylindrical body portion and a handle,
said cylindrical body portion is disposed within said cylindrical
cavity of said elongated body member when said stopcock device is
assembled, said cylindrical body portion having a T-shaped fluid
passageway extending therethrough in a plane of rotation of said
key member, said T-shaped passageway through said cylindrical body
portion selectively cooperating with said first, second and third
fluid passageways for different modes of operation, said
cylindrical body portion having an outer surface provided with a
circumferential ridge aligned and fluidly sealing with said
circumferential groove in the surface of said cylindrical cavity in
said elongated body member.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second
fluid passageways have diameters selected for conveying
substantially viscous fluids such as emulsions, suspensions and
slurrys.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said diameters of said
first and second fluid passageways are in the range of 1.0 to 5.0
millimeters.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said tapering body
portion is provided with at least one tapering outer surface
portion having a tapering ration of 0.01 to 0.30 to form a
substantially tight seal with an end of a nasogastric and
gastrostomy tubing.
5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said second tapering
tubing connection is provided with at least one tapering outer
surface portion having a tapering ratio of 0.01 to 0.30 to form a
substantially tight seal with an end of feeding tubing or a plastic
plug.
6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said second tapering
tubing connection is provided with at least one tapering outer
surface portion having a tapering ratio of 0.01 to 0.30 to form a
substantially tight seal with an end of feeding tubing or a plastic
plug.
7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said handle is defined by
an elongated rectangular plate member connected on edge to an upper
portion of said cylindrical body portion of said key member.
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said handle is
substantially aligned with said tapering body portion when said
stopcock is in a closed position with said third fluid passageway
of said syringe port being in fluid communication with said first
fluid passageway of said tapering extension of said elongated body
member.
9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tapering body
portion is provided with multiple outer tapering surface portions
of different diameters to accommodate various size nasogastric and
gastrostomy tubing.
10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said tapering body
portion is provided with four outer tapering surface portions of
different diameter to accommodate various size nasogastric and
gastrostomy tubing.
11. A gastric adapter, comprising:
an elongated body member defined by a tapering body portion
configured for tightly sealing with ends of nasogastric or
gastrostomy tubing, said elongated body member having a
substantially round opening extending into a cavity disposed in
said elongated body member, said tapering body portion having a
first fluid passageway extending therethrough and into said
cavity;
a tapering tubing connection configured for tightly sealing with an
end of a feeding tubing, said tapered tubing connection extending
from said elongated body member in a direction substantially
opposite to said tapering body portion, said tapering tubing
connection having a second fluid passageway extending therethrough
and into said cavity of said elongated body member;
a syringe port extending from said elongated body member and
positioned between said tapering extension and said tapering tubing
connection, said syringe port having a third fluid passageway
extending therethrough and into said cavity in said elongated body
member, said third fluid passageway positioned at approximately 90
degrees relative to both said first and second fluid passageways;
and
a key member defined by a body portion with a handle, said body
portion is disposed within said cavity of said elongated body
member when said stopcock is assemblyed, said body portion having a
T-shaped fluid passageway extending therethrough in a plane of
rotation of said key member, said T-shaped passageway through said
body portion selectively cooperating with said first, second and
third fluid passageways for different modes of operation, said
first and second fluid passageways have diameters selected to
accommodate substantially viscous fluids such as suspensions,
emulsions and slurrys.
12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said diameters of said
first and second fluid passageways are in the range of 1.0 to 5.0
millimeters.
13. A device according to claim 11, wherein said tapering body
portion has a tapering ratio of 0.01 to 0.30.
14. A device according to claim 12, wherein said tapering tubing
connection has a tapering ration of 0.01 to 0.30.
15. A device according to claim 13, wherein said tapering tubing
connection has a tapering ratio of 0.01 to 0.03.
16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said diameters of said
first and second fluid passageways are in the range of 1.0 to 5.0
millimeters.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved gastric adapter comprising a
three-way stopcock for use with nasogastric and gastrostomy tubes.
The device maintains a closed, contamination-free system while
providing easy access for instilling hydration, medication,
continuous feedings and gastric residual checks.
PRIOR ART
Currently, the method used for interrupting the backflow of gastric
secretions through nasogastric and gastrostomy tubing during
delivery of fluids to a patient is to use a thumb and forefinger
"pinch" to occlude the tubing. This current ineffective method
frustrates the health care practitioner as it becomes difficult to
manually "pinch off" the tubing while attempting to infuse critical
fluids and medications. Inevitably, secretions erupt from the end
of the tube spilling onto the patient, bed and practitioner during
use.
Three-way stopcock valves are readily available with their
operation well known in the art for use in administrating I.V.
fluids and medications. These stopcocks typically employ means for
selectively coupling two or three of the three or more fluid
passageways entering into the stopcock device. These devices
provide the advantage of selectively adding one or more fluids
simultaneously along a feed passageway to the patient.
However, these prior art devices are not suitable for use with
nasogastric and gastrostomy tubes. For example, either the tubing
connections of these prior art stopcock devices are inappropriate
or incompatible for leakage-proof connections with these type of
tubes and/or the fluid passageways through these devices are too
small to accommodate the viscous fluids (e.g. emulsions,
suspensions and slurrys) associated with use of nasogastric and
gastrostomy tubes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved
stopcock device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
stopcock device for use with nasogastric and gastrostomy tubes.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
stopcock device constructed for improving the administration of
various fluids and medications associated with nasogastric and
gastrostomy treatment.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
stopcock device including an elongated body member having a
tapering extension constructed for tightly sealing with the ends of
nasogastric and gastrostomy tubes, the elongated body having a
substantially round opening leading to a cavity disposed therein,
the tapering extension having a first fluid passageway extending
therethrough into said cavity; a tapered tubing section constructed
for tightly sealing with the end of feeding tubing, the tapered
tubing section extending from said elongated body member in a
direction substantially opposite to the tapering extension, the
tapered tubing section having a second fluid passageway extending
therethrough into the cavity, the first fluid passageway positioned
at approximately 180 degrees relative to the second fluid
passageway; a syringe port extending from the elongated body member
and positioned between the tapering extension and the tapered
tubing section, the syringe port having a third fluid passageway
extending therethrough into the cavity, the third fluid passageway
positioned at approximately 90 degrees relative to both the first
and second fluid passageways; and a key member including a body
portion with a handle, the body portion is disposed within the
cavity of the elongated body member when the stopcock is assembled,
the body portion having a T-shaped fluid passageway extending
therethrough in a plane of rotation of the key member, the T-shaped
passageway through the body portion selectively cooperating with
the first, second and third fluid passageways for different modes
of operation, wherein the diameters of the first and second fluid
passageways are selected to accommodate substantially viscous
fluids.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an
improved stopcock including an elongated body member having a
substantially cylindrical shaped portion connected to a tapering
extension, the cylindrical shaped portion having a round opening
leading to a cylindrical cavity disposed within the body member
with an inner surface of the cavity adjacent the round opening
having a circumferential groove disposed therein, the tapering
extension having a first fluid passageway extending therethrough
into the cylindrical cavity of the elongated body; a tapered tubing
section extending from the cylindrical shaped portion of the
elongated body member at a position opposite to the tapering
extension, the tapering tubing section having a second fluid
passageway extending therethrough into the cylindrical cavity of
the elongated body member, the first fluid passageway positioned
about approximately 180 degrees relative to the second fluid
passageway; a syringe port extending from the cylindrical shaped
portion of the elongated body member and positioned between the
tapering extension and the tapered tubing section, the syringe port
having a third fluid passageway extending therethrough into the
cylindrical cavity of the elongated body, the third fluid
passageway positioned about approximately 90 degrees relative to
both the first and second fluid passageways; and a key member
including a cylindrical body portion and a handle, the cylindrical
body portion is disposed within the cylindrical cavity of the
elongated body member when the stopcock is assembled, the
cylindrical body portion having a T-shaped fluid passageway
extending therethrough in a plane of rotation of the key member
with the T-shaped passageway through the cylindrical body portion
selectively cooperating with the first, second and third fluid
passageways for different modes of operation, the cylindrical body
portion having an outer surface provided with a circumferential
ridge aligned with the circumferential groove in the surface of the
cylindrical cavity in the elongated body member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the stopcock
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the stopcock
according to the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the sequential operation of the
stopcock shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the stopcock 10 according to the present invention
is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stopcock 10 comprises an elongated
body member 12 defined by a substantially cylindrical shaped
portion 14 connected to a tapering extension 16.
The cylindrical shaped portion 14 is provided with a round opening
18 leading to a cylindrical cavity 20. The inner surface of the
cylindrical cavity 20 positioned adjacent to the round opening 18
is provided with a circumferential groove 22 disposed in the inner
surface thereof.
The tapering extension 16 is provided with a fluid passageway 24
extending therethrough and leading into the cylindrical cavity 20
of the elongated body member 12. A tapered tubing section 26
extends from the cylindrical shaped portion 14 of the elongated
body member 12 in a direction opposite to or 180 degrees relative
to the tapering extension 16. The tapered tubing section 26 is
provided with a fluid passageway 28 leading into the cylindrical
cavity 20. A syringe port 30 extends from the cylindrical shaped
portion 14 and is located at a position between the tapering
extension 16 and tapered tubing section 26 (i.e., 90 degrees
relative thereto). The syringe port 30 having a septum 31 is
provided with a fluid passageway 32 leading into the cylindrical
cavity 20.
The tapering extension 16 is provided with a plurality of different
diameter outer circumferential tapered surface portions 34, 36, 38,
40, 42. These various circumferential tapered surface portions can
accommodate various sized nasogastric and gastrostomy tubing. The
tapering extension 16 and tapered tubing section 26 have tapered
surface angles (angle O) in the range of 2.0 to 20 degrees to form
tight seals with the inner surface ends of nasogastric, gastrostomy
and feeding tubing.
A key member 44 comprising a cylindrical body member 46 is
connected to a handle 48. In the embodiment shown, the handle 48 is
a substantially rectangular shaped plate member connected on its
edge to the cylindrical body member 46. The cylindrical body member
46 is provided with a T-shaped fluid passageway 50 located in a
plane of rotation of the cylindrical body member 46 that aligns
with the plane in which the fluid passageways 24, 28, 32 are
disposed. The individual passageways 50a, 50b, 50c of the T-shaped
fluid passageway 50 align and are placed in fluid communication
with the various fluid passageways providing different modes of
operations of the stopcock 10. The outer peripheral surface 52 of
the cylindrical body member 46 is provided with a circumferential
ridge 54 aligned with the circumferential groove 22 of the
cylindrical cavity.
The cylindrical body member 46 of the key member 44 is then
inserted into the cylindrical cavity 20 of the elongated body
member 12 while the ridge seal 54 is forced along the inner wall of
the cylindrical cavity 20, and subsequently received within the
circumferential groove 22 of the cylindrical cavity 20. The ridge
seal 54 locks the key member within the elongated body member 12
during its operational life.
The fluid passageways 24 and 28 through the tapering extension 16
and tapered tubing section 26, respectively, have diameters
selected for accommodating substantially viscous fluids such as
suspensions, emulsions or slurrys therethrough. Many of the
medicinal fluids are substantially viscous and must pass through
these passageways to be effective during operation. These fluid
passageways have diameters in the range of 1.0 millimeters to 5.0
millimeters, preferably 2.5 millimeters. Further, the tapered
surfaces 34,36,38,40,42 of the tapering extension 16 and the
tapered surface of the tubing section 26 are selected specifically
to provide a tight sealing engagement with the inner surfaces of
various size tubing. Specifically, a tapering angle O in the range
of 2.0 to 20 degrees is utilized.
The stopcock 10 is preferably made of plastic materials to reduce
cost of assembly and increase the sanitary applicability of the
device. Many surgical grade plastics are available and suitable for
this purpose. For example, polycarbonate, polyacetal and
polychloroether plastics are suitable for construction of the
device according to the present invention.
OPERATION
The operation of the device according to the present invention will
be described referring to FIG. 3. Prior to operation during
assembly of the device with various tubing, the handle 48 is
located in the position I (i.e., aligned with fluid passageways 24,
28). In this mode of operation, fluid is delivered along the fluid
passageways 24 and 28 placed in communication with each other to
allow continuous infusion of fluid through passageways 24,28 while
preventing the unintended addition of medicine through syringe port
30.
Upon rotating the handle 48 ninety degrees (90.degree. in the
counterclockwise direction to position II, passageways of the
T-shaped passageway 50 of the key member 44 align with fluid
passageways 24 and 32 to allow the addition of medicine through
syringe port 30 into passageway 32 now in communication with
passageway 24.
The features of the stop cock of the present invention
substantially improve the efficiency and operation of a stopcock
device. Specifically, the elongated body 12 is of such a shape that
a user can securely grip the elongated body member 12 within the
hand to allow the precise and easy rotation of the key member 44
during operational mode changes. This is important so as not to
disturb the various tubing connections to the stopcock device or
the tubing connections to the patient or other medical
equipment.
Further, the tapered surfaces of the tapering extension 16 and
tapered tubing section 26 accommodate various size tubing and
tightly secure these tubing extensions of the stopcock device to
the various tubing of the system. This is an important feature to
prevent leakage of fluids to and from the body of the patient to
prevent contamination and maintain a high level of sterile
conditions and applications. Further, these connections are subject
to some stress during rotation of the key member 44 relative to the
elongated 12 during operational mode changes. These features
together provide a highly effective and desirable device for use in
this particular application.
EXAMPLE
A suspension of Tylenol, Zantac, Caratate, Dilantin, Decadron or
cardiac medicines such as Kapatin, Inderol, Vasotec can be
administered with an embodiment of the device as described in
detail above.
For example, three or four dry tablets can be crushed into a powder
with a mortar and pestle. This powder can be transferred to a 30 cc
medicine cup and can be mixed with a little water by drawing up the
mixture with a syringe and injecting it through the syringe port
section of the device according to the present invention for
administering the same to a patient.
DRAWING CHART
10--stopcock
12--elongated body member
14--cylindrical shaped portion
16--tapering extension
20--cylindrical cavity
22--circumferential groove
24--fluid passageway
26--tapered tubing section
28--fluid passageway
30--syringe port
32--fluid passageway
34--circumferential tapered surface portion
36--circumferential tapered surface portion
38--circumferential tapered surface portion
40--circumferential tapered surface portion
42--circumferential tapered surface portion
44--key member
46--cylindrical body number
48--handle
50--T-shaped fluid passageways
50a--individual fluid passageway
50b--individual fluid passageway
50c--individual fluid passageway
52--outer peripheral surface
54--circumferential ridge
* * * * *